Medal Detectors

Where there are medals to be won you will inevitably find the unstoppable U13 Boys. Having claimed the National Cross Country title only a week earlier, the team were triumphant again at the Southern Road Relays at Rushmore Arena, Aldershot, on 21 September, albeit with a slightly different line-up as the age groups returned to normal. This time the victory went to the A team of Ivan Derian, Thomas Hennigan and Max Harrison, whose storming finish saw him record the second quickest final stage of the day. The same trio then went on to take the silver medals at the National Road Relays in Sutton Park, nr. Birmingham on 5 October.

In Aldershot Theo Creed, back to competing as a first year U15 following his triumph as an U13 in the National Cross Country Championships joined with James Fraser and Harry Allen in the A team which finished in tenth.

In the U15 Girls race Isabella Harrison was the fastest of the A trio, lifting the team to ninth on the final leg. The U17 Men's A team were 10th, the U17 Women's A team were 14th, and a hastily put together Senior Women's team finished 44th.

Such is the depth of the Senior Men’s squad that four complete teams were in action. 'Having gained silver medals at the Southern Cross Country Championships in January and bronze in the 12-Stage Road Relays in March', says Captain James Stockings, 'there were high hopes of completing the Southern “treble” which would demonstrate strength across all terrains! Excitement was heightened as coach Ben Noad leaked the team selections early in the week with excellent runners across all teams –  who else would have two guys who finished in the top 100 in the previous week's National Cross Country Championships in their C team!?' 

Of course for Ben and fellow coach Keith Scofield, selecting teams at this time of year, with relatively little in the way of a form guide, is always contentious, but, says James, 'I really believe one of our strengths is the squad's commitment to one another; everyone is happy to contribute to whichever team needs them and race for the vest, which is why the relays bring out the best in us'. 

In the event the A team finished in fifth, with the B team in 8th (and first B team), both qualifying comfortably for the National Championships in Sutton Park on Saturday (5 October). Charlie Wyllie got the A team off to a great start, clocking 18:21 over the 6km course to hand over in eighth to Jonny Cornish, who gained an additional place in 18:24. Charlie Eastaugh, battling a hip problem, ran 19:22, handing over in tenth to Andrew Penney who scorched through the field to take five places in the fastest leg 4 of the day (18:15) and then leave it to Dan Cliffe (18:35) and finally Toby Cooke (18:46) to consolidate fifth place.

For the B team George Brown clocked 18:32 to kick the team off in 17th. Alex Milne moved into the top ten with 18:30, followed by Archie Walton (19:10) and George Mallett who brought the team up to eighth in 18:58, a position they held to the finish thanks to Tom Jervis  (19:08) and James Stockings (19:03).

The C team of Ed Mallett (19:23), Henry Silverstein (19:07), Fred Slemeck (19:21) Ryan McAlister (19:50), U20 Jack Hobden (20:23) and Joe Clark (20:21), were 34th, and the D team featuring U20s Sebastian Cockerell and Isaac Lutaya, along with Simon Wade, Dave Grima, Richard Jones and John Foley were 70th, with Pete Clarke a lone runner in the E team.

'The podium once more was just out of reach but again we demonstrated our ability to be competitive amongst the best', says James, 'and that small improvement on last year's placing just fuelled the burning desire for this generation to achieve.

Full results

And so to the Nationals…

Two weeks after winning the SEAA title, Ivan Derian, Thomas Hennigan and Max Harrison clinched the silver medals at the National Road Relays in Sutton Park Birmingham. The Senior men, having briefly moved into fourth, finished ninth – the fourth consecutive year in which they have finished in the top ten..

On the first leg Charlie Wyllie clocked 17:49 to hand over in 24th to Stuart McCallum, who gained eleven places in 17:24. Toby Cooke ran 17:33 to move into sixth and Jonny Cornish clocked 17:46 to lift the team up to fourth. it was, noted Club reporter George Mallett, the first time in the Club’s Sutton Park-history that the first four leg runners each recorded times under 18 minutes. Other club however were finishing fast, as George Brown (18:17) and last leg runner Henry Silverstein (18:41) brought the team home in ninth.

Below: more medals for the irrepressible U13 Boys

Medals Galore at the Surrey Cross Country Relay Championships…

Nothing emphasises the strength and depth of the U13 squad more than the fact that while Ivan, Thomas and Max were collecting their silver medals at Sutton Park, another team of U13 boys were bagging the bronze medals at the Surrey County Cross Country Relays at Nonsuch Park. This new event combined the Bruce Judd Junior Cross Country Championships with the Senior Championships, previously run as Road Relays in Wimbledon Park. It was a profitable day for the Club as the U15 Boys and Girls won team golds, as did the U17 Men, with a second team of U15 Boys taking the silver medals. The U17 Women also bagged silver medals as did the ‘Senior’ team of five U20s and one Vet. To cap off a great day there were bronze medals for the U13 Girls, too.